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Ian Foster and Scott Robertson each had one main selling point in their race to become the new All Blacks coach.
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Robertson has a resume that very few coaches can rival: two provincial titles with Canterbury, a World Rugby Under 20 Championship with New Zealand and three Super Rugby titles crowns consecutive years with the Crusaders (a side he’s been at the helm at for just those three years).
Foster’s resume, on the other hand, is far less glamorous on a domestic level but he has been part of the All Blacks setup for the past eight years under Steve Hansen and New Zealand Rugby have previously supported the policy of appointing from within. Ultimately, NZR upheld their traditional approach and chose Foster.
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In light of this, there is a lot of sympathy for Robertson from many All Blacks fans. While Foster always stood a good chance of being appointed to ensure continuity, the Crusaders coach’s record is so staggeringly impressive, many thought he may have shaded the battle.
https://twitter.com/2legit2dunk/status/1204560381521252353?s=20
? They've missed a trick not getting Robertson. Could have done with some new energy to stop the slide of players going north. https://t.co/Nn6hFmWwGr
— Robert Giannotti (@robertgiannotti) December 11, 2019
I… I'm a bit surprised that they didn't go for Scott Robertson. But also kind of not surprised #AllBlacks
— P.G. Wodelouse (@PGWodelouse) December 11, 2019
What some are saying is that this has disincentivised any coach from applying for the All Blacks job in the future, as very few would be able to make a more compelling case to be coach than Robertson has on this occasion. Unless NZR make it clear that the next appointment will be different, anyone that is not part of the coaching team already will be reluctant to apply.
Huge mistake. You've not only picked the inferior candidate, you've further disincentivised quality NZ coaches from applying to be ABs coach in the future.
— MrHeathcliff (@heathcliff_mr) December 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/VizualizeIt/status/1204556668085735424?s=20
The other reason why many are sceptical is that the loss to England in the Rugby World Cup semi-final has been viewed as a watershed moment. The All Blacks’ eight years of dominance came crashing down in Yokohama, and it is feared in New Zealand that it signalled the end of such a fruitful period.
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Therefore, some feel that a fresh approach is needed within the All Blacks coaching setup to avoid the chance of the team growing stale. Phrases like “decade of decline” have been bandied about by fans as a consequence.
Boooooo. All Blacks decade of decline starts today. All that talk by Hansen of fresh ideas and here we are. Stale city
— ??Sir Sponge Robert Square Tunic (@derilicte) December 11, 2019
AB's need a fresh mind, doubt Ian Foster is the answer as he has been in the system far too long. Razor would have been my pick, but let Boks reign as no.1 continue until 2021. https://t.co/8RJhde4Kcw
— Nandile Maholwana (@Igwe_TheElder) December 11, 2019
When Graham Henry stood down in 2011 after winning the RWC, it would have been a travesty if anyone but Hansen took over, as he had, after all, helped build such a formidable team. The All Blacks flourished over the next four years under him, but some have felt that they have waned since 2015 – at least compared to their usual standards. With Robertson proving credentials since then, developing arguably the best non-Test team in the world, many feel that this is an opportunity lost.
WATCH: One of the darlings of the 2019 Rugby World Cup could find themselves on the outer in the coming years.
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Comments on RugbyPass
AI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
58 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to comments